Aeroplane



Fb. 5 l1924.

K. LYON AEROPLANE Filed June 19. 192,2

4 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 5 1924. 1,482,520

' K. LYON AEROPLANE Filed June 19, 1.922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. s ,`1924-.

K. LYON AEROPLANE we; mmnamiir Feb. 5 1924. 1,482,520

K. n YoN AEROPLANE mea June 19, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KYLE LYON, OF SPENCER, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD '10 THOMAS W. SMITH AND ONE-THIRD T ADAM J. CLEMENT, BOTH OIE ROWAN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

AEROPLANE.

Application led June 19, 1922.

T 0 all w hom t 'may concern Be it known that KYLE LYON, a citizen of the United States` residing at Spencer, in the county of Rowan and State of North Carolina, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined aeroplane and land vehicle.

The present applica-tion is a continuation in part of my former application for aeroplane, Serial No. 418,982` filed Oct. 23, 1920, allowed Nov. 26, 1921.

An important object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane having supporting planes hinged or pivotally connected with the fuselage, so that they ma-y be swung inwardly to lie adjacent to the sides of the fuselage, the swinging of the supporting planes being effected by an element arranged adjacent to the cockpit of the machine, in reach of the pilot.

A further object of the invention is to provide positive and reliable means to lock 25 the supporting planes in the open or transverse position, such locking means being adapted to be released by the pilot in the cockpit.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to automatically lock: the supporting planes in the longitudinal or closed position, when moved thereto, such locking means being adapted to be released by the pilot in the cockpit.

A further object of the invention is to provide starting and landing wheels, separate from the wheels of the chassis, and adapted to be shifted to positions above and below the chassis wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skid or brake, shiftable vertically with the starting and landing wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the engine may be alternately connected with the propeller, or with the chassis wheels, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, th-e rear wheels of which are adapted to be driven by the engine, through the medium of the ordinary differential, and the front chassis wheels are equipped with Serial N0. 569,461.

the usual steerin ,mechanism, present` in the ordinary'automo ile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, a-nd in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sect-ion taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine, parts being shown in central vertical longitudinal sectionq Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the transmission connected with the engine, parts being shown in section,

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is aI similar view taken on line 8-*8 of Fig. 2',

Fig. 9 is a. transverse vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 10 is aperspective view of the bolt shifting device,

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken on line 11-11. of Fig. 4,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a, latch device for holding the support-ing planes in the closed position, and,

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the operating means for the landing wheels and associated elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the fuselage, in the forward portion of which is mounted a motor 10'. This motor drives a propeller 11, as will be described. The fuselage 10 `tapers rearwardly and is provided near its central portion with a cockpit 12, as shown.

The chassis for the fuselage embodies a pair of forward steering wheels 13, mounted upon an axle 14, carried by Suitable spring mountings 15, in turn attached to the fuselage. The chassis wheels 13 may be turned in steering the machine, when traveling upon the ground, and for this purpose I provide steering means 16, of the construction ordinarily employed in automobiles, which steering means is operated by a steering post 17, carrying the usual wheel 18, mounted within the cockpit, as shown. As the means for operating the steering wheels of automobiles is well known, it is thought to be unnecessary to show the same here in detail, it being sufficient to state that applicant contemplates using any of the ordinary means for steering the front wheel 13. The numeral 19 designates rear or driving chassis wheels, mounted upon a rear axle structure 20, carried by spring mountings 21 arranged beneath and attached to the fuselage, as shown. The rear wheels are driven by a differential gearing 22, as is customary in automobiles. VThis differential gearing is in turn driven by a drive shaft 23, extending forwardly through the lower ortion of the fuselage, as shown. The drive shaft 23 has a change speed and reverse gearing 23 connected therein, whereby the wheels 19 may be driven forwardly at different speeds, or rearwardly, as is customary in the ordinary automobile. The gearing may be of any well known or preferred construction, and this gearing may be operated by a lever 24, having connection with a link 25 pivotally connected with a lever 23a. This lever 23, Figure 3, is pivoted upon the rock shaft 38, and is equipped with the usual latch means 23h, to engage with a stationary toothed quadrant 23C. It is thus seen that means are provided whereby the driving wheels 19 may be driven at different speeds in a forwardly direction, and also in reverse. The chassis wheels 13 and 19 are employed when the machine is traveling upon the ground.

Arranged upon opposite sides of the fuselage, and near and in advance of the cockpit, are normally transverse supporting planes 24, the planes in each vertical pair being suitably rigidly secured to a vertical rock shaft 25, disposed adjacent the rear edges of the planes. A vertical lock shaft 26 is rigidly secured to these planes, adjacent to their forward edges and inner ends. If desired, the planes 24 in the vertical pairs may be further connected by means of struts and dia onal wires, not shown.

he shafts 25, Fig. 3, are journaled in bearings 27, rigidly secured to the sides of the fuselage 10, and these rock shafts arc held against longitudinal displacement by collars 28, rigidly secured thereon. The

rock shafts 25 are also preferably journaled in the ends of transverse bars 29, bolted to the top and bottom of the fuselage 10, as shown.

Means are provided to turn the vertica'i rock 4shafts 25, including gears 30, rigidly www.

secured thereto, and operating within openings 31 in the fuselage. Figs. 2, 3, and 7. The gears 30 are engaged by segmental gears 32, carried by pivot elements 33, secured to brackets 34. The brackets 34 are bolted to the inner surface of the fuselage 10, as shown. The segmental gears 32 carry inwardly extending cranks 35, having longitudinal openings 36, receiving upstanding cranks 37. The cranks 37 are rigidly secured to a transverse rock shaft 38, Figs. 3 and 7, pivoted in bearings 39, secured to the fuselage, near the cockpit 12, Fig. 4. The rock shaft 38 is turned by a lever 40, rigidly secured thereto, and equipped with latch means 41, to engage a stationary quadrant 42, having teeth or notches.

Arranged upon the outer faces of the sides of the fuselage are pairs of preferably horizontally arranged bolt housings or casings 43, Figs. 2 and 8, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. A sliding bolt 44 is permanently held within each housing and is urged outwardly or forwardly by a spring 45, the head 46 of the bolt having an outer or forward tapered face 47. This head is adapted to project into a keeper 48, secured to the fuselage. The inner face 49 of the head is straight and not inclined. The bolts 44 have connection with transverse pins 50, arranged at a right angle thereto, and extending through slots 51. These pins 50 are pivoted within openings 52, formed in the ends of vertical bars 53. These vertical bars have forwardly extending projections 54, connected by a transverse horizontal bar 55, having connection with a cable 56. This Cable extends rearwardly through a support 57, in convenient reach of the operator, at the cockpit. The lock shafts 26 are adapted to be held behind the heads 46, Fig. 8, and when the supporting planes are shifted outwardly or forwardly, the lock shafts 26 will engage the inclined faces 47 and move the bolts 44 rearwardly, which again spring forwardly, to lock the shafts 26 against outward movement. The shafts 26 are released by pullin upon the cable 56, serving to shift the bos 44 rearwardly.

I also provide means to lock the supporting planes 34 in the closed or longitudinal position, when shifted thereto, and for this purpose I secure upstanding lugs 58, Fig. 11, upon the lower supporting planes 24, these lugs being located, at the rear edges of the lower planes 24, Fig. 1. The numeral 59 designates a latch bar, provided at its ends with heads 60, having inclined faces 61, and abrupt shoulders 62. Then the planes 24 are swung rearwardly, to the longitudinal position, the lugs 58 will ride over the inclined faces 61, and engage behind the shoulders 58, and hence the planes will be locked in the closed position. The

loo

141+. HEIUNHU l lbb carries horizontal fingers or cranks 68, en#

gaging beneath the latch bar. The rock shaft has an upstanding crank 69, rigidly secured thereto, near its center, and this upstanding crank has a rod secured thereto,

extending forwardly for connection with a pedal 71, arranged within the cockpit. It will be seen that when the pedal 71 is depressed, that the rock shaft 67 will be turned in the direction to elevate the arms 68, raising the latch bar 59, an releasing the supporting planes, which may then be shifted to the forward transverse position.

I provide starting and landing wheels 72, which are separate from the chassis wheels 13, and these wheels 72 are carried by an axle 73, Fig. 9, rigidly mounted upon an upstanding screw threaded shaft 74. This screw threaded shaft 74 has an operating wheel 75, screw threaded upon its upperportion. This wheel is free to rotate and is provided with an outwardly extending annular rib 76, slidable in an annular guide 77, carried by arms 78, mounted upon the bottom of the fuselage 10. It isthus seen that the wheel 75 cannot partake of perceptible longitudinal movement, and that when this wheel is turned, it will raise or lower the screw threaded shaft 74. The wheel 75 is provided with worm teeth 77', engaged by a worm 78, carried by a shaft 79. This shaft 79 is journaled in bearings 80 and 81, and is equipped at its rear end with a wheel 82, to turn it. This wheel is in reach of the operator in the cockpit.

The numeral 83 designates a pair of guide bars, connected at their lower ends, at 84, with the axle 73, and sliding in upstanding guides 85. These guide bars are provided upon their inner faces with ratchet teeth 86, adapted to be engaged by spring pressed dogs 87, slidable in housings 88. The dogs 87 are moved inwardly by levers 89, pivoted at their centers, at- 90. These levers have pivotal connection, at their upper ends, with inclined links 91, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected at 92, and also connected with a member 93. By depressing the member 93, the inclined links 91 are moved outwardly, and the levers 89 turned upon their pivots andthe dogs 87 drawn inwardly to disengage the ratchet teeth 86. The wheel 75 riay now be turned to raise the shaft 74 and wheels 4standingv screw 101.

72. The dogs 87 do not prevent the downward movement of the shaft 74.

The numeral 94 designates a vertically swinging skid or brake, operating through an opening 95, and pivotally mounted upon a transverse shaft 96, secured to the fuselage. The skid 94 is provided with a forked portion 97, Figs. 4 and 6, having elongated openings 98, receiving trunnions 99, formed upon a nut 100, engaging an up- This screw is formed upon an upstanding shaft 102, the ends of which are journaled in bearings 103, secured to the top and bottom of the fuselage. The shaft 102 has a beveled gear 104,

rigidly secured thereto, engaging a beveled gear 105, rigidly secured to a longitudinal shaft 106. This longitudinal shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 107 and 108. The shaft 106 is provided at its forward end with a beveled gear 109, rigidly secured thereto, and this beveled gear 109 is driven by a beveled gear 110, receiving its rotation from a beveled gear 111, which is driven by a beveled gear 112, in turn rigidly mounted upon the shaft 79. It is thus seen that when the shaft 79 is turned to raise or lower the wheels 72, that the skid 94 would be raised and lowered.

The propeller 11 is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 113, journaled in a bearing 114. This shaft is free to rotate but cannot move longitudinally perceptibly. The shaft 113 has a spherically curved clutch element 115 rigidly mounted upon its rear end, Figs. 4 and 5. The engine 10 has a crank shaft 116, extending forwardly beyond the crank case of the engine. This crank shaft has a clutch head 117 keyed thereon, to move longitudinally thereof, and turn therewith. The clutch head 117 has a clutch lingers 118 pivoted thereon in a circular group, as shown at 119, and these clutch fingers are slidable through openings 120, formed in a disk 121, rigidly mounted upon the crank shaft 116. The openings 120 are sufficiently large to permit of the slight lateral movements of the clutch fingers. These clutch fingers 118, when moved forwardly and outwardly, contact with the inner surface of the spherically curved clutch element 115.

The crank shaft 116 has a gear 122 rigidly mounted thereon, and arranged to be engaged by a sliding gear 123, slidable upon a shaft 124, carried by supports 125. The gear 123 is long and is in permanent mesh with a gear 126, carried by a shaft 127, and the gear 126 engages a gear 128, rigidly mounted upon a shaft 129. This shaft. is carried by the supports 125 and is connected with the shaft 23 by a universal joint 129', whereby the rotation of the shaft 129 is imparted to the shaft 23.

The gear 123 is equipped with a grooved hub 130, slidably receiving the end o'f a fork 131, pivoted upon a lever 132, beneath the pivot 133, of this lever. The upper end of the lever 132 is forged, and has pivotal connection with a. ring 134, slid able within an annular groove, formed near the clutch head 117. It is thus seen that when the lever is swung in one direction, the clutch head 117 and gear 123 are shifted in opposite directions. The lever 132 has pivotal connection at its lower end with a rod 135, Fig. 4, extending rearwardly for pivotal connection with a lever 136, Figs. 4 and 3. This lever 136 may be pivotally mounted upon the rock shaft 38, and is equipped with latch means 137, to engage a toothed quadrant 13S. The lever 136 is in convenient reach of the pilot in the cockpit.

The machine is equipped with the usual direction and elevating rudders.

The space between the supporting planes 24, when they are in the outer transverse position, is covered by a plane 139, Figs. l and 3, and this plane is suitably mounted upon the fuselage, and is spaced above the same. The cockpit 12 is preferably protected from the top, by a cover plane 140, secured to a frame 141, which is pivoted within elements 142, mounted upon the plane 139, Fig. 1. rThe rear end of the plane 140 is provided with an opening 143, to receive the upper end of a rod 144, Fig. 2, which will hold the cover plane in the horizontal position, as shown.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

IVhen used as a land vehicle, Fig. 2, the starting and landing wheels 72 are shifted upwardly, above the lower portions of the chassis wheels 13 and 19, and the skid 94 is also elevated. The supporting planes 24 are now arranged in the inner position, longitudinally of the machine, and are held locked in this position b v the latch bar 59. The lever 136 may now be in the neutral position, whereby the engine is disconnected both from the propeller and from the rear chassis wheels. To cause the machine to travel upon the ground, as a vehicle, the lever 136 is swung forwardly, which turns the lever 132 upon its pivot, swinging the upper end of this lever rearwardly. The gear 122 now engages the gear 123, while the clutch fingers 12() disengage the spherical clutch element 115. The shaft 23 is driven, and the rear wheels 19 driven through the medium of the differential gear, while the front wheels 13 may be steered from the wheel 1S, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

To use the machine as an aeroplane, the supporting planes 24 are first swung to the open or transverse position, by proper manipulation of the lever 40, the lock shafts 26 being locked behind the bolts 44. If

it is preferred to start with the propeller, the lever 136 is drawn rearwardly, which swings the lever 132 rearwardly, the upper ond of lthis lever shifting the clutch head 117 forwardly, and bringing clutch fingers 120 into proper frictional engagement with the spherically curved clutch element 115. The propeller 11 is therefore locked to the crank sha-ft 116 while the gear 122 disengages the gear 123. In this starting operation, the machine may travel upon the chassis wheels 13 and 19, or if desired, the starting and landing wheels 72 may he projected downwardly below the chassis wheels, Fig. 4, and the skid 94 will also be projected downwardly. The wheels 72 will retain the chassis wheels spaced from the ground, during the starting or landing operation.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a chassis supporting the same, propelling means carried by the fuselage, a pair of supporting planes disposed upon opposite sides of the fuselage, upstanding rock shafts connected with the supporting planes and arranged near their rear edges and connected with the fuselages, positive means to turn the rock shafts, upstanding lock shafts connected with the supporting planes near their forward edges, sliding bolts to engage the lock shafts and hold them against movement, and means to operate the sliding bolts.

2. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a chassis supporting the same, propelling means carried by the fuselage, a pair of supporting planes arranged upon opposite sides of the fuselage, upstanding rock shafts connected with the supporting planes near corresponding edges and connected with the fuselages, positive means to turn the rock shafts, lock shafts connected with the supporting planes near their opposite edges, movable bolts connected with the fuselage and adapted to engage the lock shafts, and means to move the bolts.

3. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a chassis supporting the same, propelling means carried by the fuselage, pairs of supporting planes upon opposite sides of the fuselage, rock shafts connected with the supporting planes, positive means to turn the rock shafts, lock shafts connected with the planes, sliding bolts to engage the lock shafts and having beveled faces, springs to urge the bolts forwardly, and manually operated means to retract the bolts.

4. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a chassis f s n. a

supporting the same, supporting planes lugs, yielding means to move the latch bar pivotally connected with the fuselage to downwardly, and manually operated means swing longitudinally thereof, means to to move the latch bar upwardly. 10 hold the planes in the outer transverse posi- In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- 5 tion, lugs carried by the planes, a transture.

verse latch bar mounted upon the fuselage and provided with latch heads to engage the KYLE LYON. 

